Device for connecting attachable switchgear cabinets

ABSTRACT

A device for connecting switchgear cabinets which can be attached to each other. The switchgear cabinets have racks with frame sections and form connecting frames extending as far as connecting planes. The frame sections have side sections which are oriented towards an inner space of the switchgear cabinet. Corresponding frame sections of the attached racks are interconnected by one or several connecting elements with a positive fit. The connecting elements are fixed at receptacles of the side sections. In order to provide considerable flexibility in attaching different types of switchgear cabinets, the vertical frame pieces connected to the connecting element have different cross-sectional dimensions, the connecting element is fixed to a fixing receptacle of the first frame section by a first fixing element, and the connecting element grips the second frame section with a clamping element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for connecting switchgear cabinetswhich can be lined up against each other, having racks with profiledframe sections which form connecting frames in a direction of theconnecting planes, wherein the profiled frame sections have hollowprofiled sections equipped with profiled sides oriented toward theinterior of the switchgear cabinet, wherein profiled frame sections ofthe racks are lined-up, associated with each other, and areinterlockingly connected with each other by one or several connectorsfixed in place at fastening receivers of the profiled sides.

2. Description of Related Art

Such an arrangement is known from European Patent Reference EP 0 189 061A1 wherein separate clamping elbows are fastened on the adjoiningprofiled frame sections of the lined-up profiled frame sections. Aclamping slide can be pushed on the clamping elbows. The clamping elbowand the clamping slide form a conically tapering wedge connection, whichclamps the profiled frame sections against each other.

The controls of the installations of large factories are housed inswitchgear cabinets. Since the volume of a single switchgear cabinet isinsufficient, several switchgear cabinets are lined up against eachother. Over time, the function sequences of the factory change, so thatthe installation control must be continuously updated. Becauseswitchgear technology is also developed further and as a result of thisother types of switchgear cabinets are created, a second row ofswitchgear cabinets is placed next to the first one. For makingcommunications between the two rows possible, appropriate cables, supplylines, and the like are positioned. If the factory is converted, theswitchgear cabinets must also be relocated. It is then intended with theconnecting elements that an entire row can be picked up by a crane andrelocated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to create a device of the typementioned at the outset, wherein a cost outlay for the switchgearcabinet for the conversion and set-up of a factory is reduced.

This object is achieved with profiled frame sections connected with theconnector having different cross-sectional geometries. The connector isfixed in place in a fastening receiver of the first profiled framesection with a first fixation element, and the connector acts on thesecond profiled frame section by a clamping element.

According to this invention, different profiled frame sections, andtherefore different types of switchgear cabinets, can be lined up witheach other. When setting up a factory it is therefore not necessary toform several rows of switchgear cabinets. This makes it also possible tokeep the cost outlay for a conversion of a factory low, because only onerow of switchgear cabinets needs to be manipulated.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, theconnector is designed in one piece and maintains the clamping element,which is embodied as a fastening screw, in a threaded receiver, whereina center longitudinal axis of the threaded receiver is arranged at aright angle with the connecting plane. This simply designed connectorcan be cost-effectively manufactured and produces a highly stableclamping of the two profiled frame sections. It is advantageouslypossible to exert the clamping force vertically on the connecting planewith the fastening screw.

If the aligned profiled frame sections each have a profiled sideoriented toward an interior of the switchgear cabinet and each extendsvertically with respect to the connecting plane, and the connector hastwo legs which extend parallel with each other and rest with levelcontact faces against the profiled sides, then the two profiled framesections can be exactly aligned with each other, using the connector.

This is also possible in particular if the profiled sides are offsetparallel with each other. Then the two legs of the connector transitioninto each other by an adapter element, which is arranged in an area ofthe connecting plane. For securely fixing the connector in place, inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the connectoris suspended by its first fixation element, designed as a hook, in afastening receiver of the first profiled frame section and isinterlockingly supported thereon parallel with the connecting plane. Theclamping element acts on a profiled side extending parallel with theconnecting plane and is also interlockingly held on parallel with theconnecting plane. The interconnected fixation in place of the firstfixation element, as well as of the fastening screw, prevents theconnector from being inadvertently released out of its clampingposition, so that a dependable connection of the aligned profiled framesections is always assured.

According to this invention the clamping element can be embodied as afastening screw with a centering pin which engages a fastening bore ofthe second profiled frame section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This invention is explained in greater detail by one preferredembodiment shown in the drawing in a partial perspective exploded view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawing shows two lined-up profiled frame sections 10, 20, which arefixed against each other by means of two connectors 30. The firstprofiled frame section 10 has two profiled sides 11, 12 at right anglesto each other, which are oriented toward an interior 17 of theswitchgear cabinet. At its free end, the profiled side 11 transitionsinto a vertically extending contact edge. At its end, the profiled side12 is bent at right angles and forms a sealing strip 14, which alsoextends vertically. Rows of fastening receivers 13 are cut at equaldistances from each other into the two profiled sides 11, 12. Built-inequipment units in the interior 17 of the switchgear cabinet can befastened in the fastening receivers.

The second profiled frame section 20 has a different cross-sectionalgeometry than the first profiled frame section 10. The second profiledframe section 20 has four profiled sides 21 a, 21 b, all of which areoriented toward the interior 17 of the switchgear cabinet. The profiledsides 21 a each extend at right angles with respect to the profiledoutsides formed by the second profiled frame section 20. The profiledsides 21 b each adjoin the profiled sides 21 a at right angles and forman interior receiver, in which vertically extending mounting rails areinstalled. A row of fastening receivers 22 is cut into the respectiveindividual profiled sides 21 a, 21 b. In this case the fasteningreceivers 22 are altematingly embodied as bores and slit-shapedopenings. Sealing strips 23 are beveled at right angles from theprofiled sides 21 a. The second profiled frame section 20 can be linedup against the sealing strip 14 of the first profiled frame section 10in the area of one of the two sealing strips 23. In this case a seal 50is held between the two sealing strips 23, 14.

Connectors 30 are used for the secure connection of the two profiledframe sections 10, 20. The connector 30 has a first fixation element 31,which is designed in the form of a hook. A leg 32 adjoins the fixationelement 31 and transitions into a further leg 34 by means of an adapterelement 33. A shoulder, which has a threaded receiver 35, is beveled offthe further leg 34. The connector 30 can be suspended in one of thefastening receivers 13 of the profiled side 12 by means of the fixationelement 31. The leg 32 has an upper contact face, with which the leg 32rests against the profiled side 12. The second leg 34 also has a levelcontact face, which rests flat against the profiled side 21a of thesecond profiled frame section 20. The two profiled sides 12 and 21 a areoffset parallel with each other. This offset is compensated by theadapter element 33. Because the contact faces of the two legs 32, 34 areparallel with respect to each other, the profiled sides 12 and 21 a andtherefore also the profiled frame sections 10, 20 are aligned withrespect to each other. A fastening screw 40 can be screwed into thethreaded receiver 35 of the connector 30. On its end, the fasteningscrew 40 has a centering pin 41. When screwing the fastening screw 40in, the centering pin 41 enters into one of the fastening receivers 22of the second profiled frame section 20. The connector 30 is fixed inplace against the second profiled frame section 20 by means of thecentering pin 41 so that it can no longer be displaced parallel with theconnecting plane. The first fixation element 31 performs the samefunction. When the fastening screw 40 is screwed into the threadedreceiver 35, the two profiled frame sections 10, 20 are clamped to eachother, and the seal 50 is compressed to the required extent.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a device for connecting two switchgearcabinets which can be aligned against each other, the switchgearcabinets having aligned racks formed of profiled frame sections (10, 20)and which form connecting frames in a direction of a connecting plane,wherein the profiled frame sections have profiled sides (11, 12, 21 a,21 b) oriented toward an interior of the switchgear cabinets, whereinthe profiled frame sections (10, 20) of a first cabinet of the cabinetsis the aligned racks which are associated with each other areinterlockingly connected with one of the profiled frame sections (10,20) of a second cabinet of the cabinets by at least one connector (30)fixed in place at one of fastening receivers of one of the profiledsides, an improvement comprising: the profiled frame sections (10, 20)of the first cabinet having cross-sectional geometry different than thegeometry of the profiled frame sections (10, 20) of the second cabinet,the at least one connector (30) fixed in place in one of the receiversfastening receiver (13) of a first profiled frame section (10) of theprofiled frame sections (10, 20) of the first cabinet by a firstfixation element (31), and the connector (30) acting on a secondprofiled frame section (20) of the profiled frame sections (10, 20) by aclamping element (40).
 2. In the device in accordance with claim 1,wherein the connector (30) is one piece and maintains the clampingelement (40) which is embodied as a fastening screw in a threadedreceiver (35), wherein a center longitudinal axis of the threadedreceiver (35) is at a right angle with respect to the connecting plane.3. In the device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the aligned framesections each extending vertically with respect to the connecting plane,and the connector (30) has two legs (32, 34) which extend parallel witheach other and the legs (32, 34) have contact faces that each restagainst one of the profiled sides (21 a, 12) of the frame sections. 4.In the device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the profiled sides(12, 21 a) are offset parallel with each other, and the two legs (32,34) of the connector (30) transition into each other with an adapterelement (33) which is arranged in an area of the connecting plane.
 5. Inthe device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the connector (30) has afirst fixation element designed as a hook suspended in a fasteningreceiver (13) of the first profiled frame section (10) and isinterlockingly supported parallel with the connecting plane, and theclamping element (40) acts on a profiled side (21 b) of the secondprofiled frame section (20) extending parallel with the connecting planeand the clamping element (40) is interlockingly held parallel with theconnecting plane.
 6. In the device in accordance with claim 5, whereinthe clamping element (40) is embodied as a fastening screw having acentering pin (41) which engages a fastening bore of the second profiledframe section (20).
 7. In the device in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe aligned frame sections each extending vertically with respect to theconnecting plane, and the connector (30) has two legs (32, 34) whichextend parallel with each other and the legs (32, 34) have contact facesthat each rest against one of the profiled sides (21 a, 12) of the framesections.
 8. In the device in accordance with claim 7, wherein eachprofiled side (12, 21 a) is offset parallel with each other, and the twolegs (32, 34) of the connector (30) transition into each other with anadapter element (33) which is arranged in an area of the connectingplane.
 9. In the device in accordance with claim 1, wherein theconnector (30) has a first fixation element designed as a hook suspendedin a fastening receiver (13) of the first profiled frame section (10)and is interlockingly supported parallel with the connecting plane, andthe clamping element (40) acts on a profiled side (21 b) of the secondprofiled frame section (20) extending parallel with the connecting planeand the clamping element (40) is interlockingly held parallel with theconnecting plane.
 10. In the device in accordance with claim 9, whereinthe clamping element (40) is embodied as a fastening screw having acentering pin (41) which engages a fastening bore of the second profiledframe section (20).